While I've used the tin foil method before

what you show here is a definite improvement in my technique.  I just did sides and ceiling and then "mudded" them together, but the basic liner form could be used over and over with just shorter lengths and get more consistent results as well.   Thanks for more simple but effective ideas for this.

Tunnel Liners

Great article:

Ive used foam as well, use cheap gray and black spray paint and carefully spray: The foam will "gravel up" and react to the chemicals. This will give you a decent rock face.

I have also used heavy brown paper and cardboard. Spray paint the brown with flat black and then gray highlights. After drying, wad the paper up and then unfold. The wrinkles will make a decent rock image. Then cut to the size needed and install with hot glue. If the paper tries to sag, simply support it with cardboard strips.

My preferred method is a combination of the above. Make the walls from box cardboard and use brown paper as the "roof" of the tunnel. The cardboard looks like a concrete tunnel liner.

I also ballast the track and paint the rails before the tunnels go in, making them look really nice.

Randy McKenzie

Virginia Southern

HO triple decker, 27 x 32, based on the north end of the Clinchfield.

Good Article!

Nice technique!  I like the solid cast aspect of this more than the pieced together liners.  I too have used foil in the past, but for casting rock faces in place.  I found that some carving while the plaster was still somewhat soft and a bit of "wire brush weathering" gave me some good results in the past...wish I could share a picture but they were taken with film an I'll be darned if I can find any of my old layout pics! :o(

Really good stuff!

What hppened to good old bead board or foam

Charlie

Looks great but why?  Do you leave the acess hole open when you have visitors?

Three pieces of bead board and black latex paint will make a great tunnel liner.

Detail first 6" on facing side only and move on to something ever one will see.

What with the video, I though the article was about tunnel liners not fright trains doing a run by.  Nice but why.

Art.

Lets see how it looks...

Art,

I think you answered your first question with the first two words in the same sentence.  The question, "but why?"  The answer, "Looks great" [smile]

I'm having a hard time imagining black spray painted bead board looking as good as a cast blasted rock wall.

I would be interested in seeing pictures of the method you describe.

Access hole

Art,

The access hole got opened for the article. It hadn't been opened since I installed it and has been closed since the article.

Why? I've got a dream of camera in cab locos running through the tunnels.

Charlie